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Murder Suspect out of Solitary Confinement

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Murder Suspect out of Solitary Confinement

The suspect being brought to the police station on the night of his arrest. Photo: Screenshot from RÚV.

The man suspected in the death of Birna Brjánsdóttir will be out of solitary confinement today. This was confirmed by Inspector Einar Guðberg Jónsson. Birna’s body was found in Reykjanes on January 22, but the 20-year-old disappeared in Reykjavík on January 14.

The suspect is a crew member of the trawler Polar Nanoq from Greenland. He has been in police custody and solitary confinement for close to six weeks. Einar Guðberg told RÚV there is no longer reason to demand that he be held in solitary confinement due to the interest of the investigation, but added that an extension of police custody will be requested when it expires on Thursday.

Einar Guðberg explained that police try not to keep suspects in solitary confinement any longer than need be. The suspect is not believed to be able to influence the investigation of the case. Witness reports have been completed, but during the past two weeks, such reports were taken regarding alleged drug smuggling and the smuggling of hashish onboard Polar Nanoq, but not regarding the death or disappearance of Birna. Police have spoken with the suspect himself several times during his time in police custody.

Einar Guðberg reported that the investigation is going well and that biological samples and other data are being analyzed.